Screening for Anti-inflammatory Activities in Extracts from Korean Herb Medicines

Abstract

Cosmetics are products used over long periods by the public, and their safety is very important. Contact dermatitis induced by cosmetics is the result of an inflammatory response of the skin to direct irritancy. The initial event that this inflammatory response is observed is the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. In this study, the anti-inflammatory activities of extracts from Korean herb medicines were investigated using RAW264.7 macrophage. Among the fifty one extracts tested, the ethanol extracts from Biotae Orientalis Folium, Biotae Orientalis Folium (roasted), Cyperi Rhizoma, Nepetae Spica, Benincasae Semen, Dioscoreae Rhizoma, Dioscoreae Rhizoma (roasted), Mori Ramulus, Pini Ramulus and Alismatis Rhizoma reduced the cytotoxicity and inhibited the productions of Nitric oxide (NO) and cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-αn lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 macrophage. Additionally, they didn't induce the skin irritation when tested the human patch test. Overall, the result of this study suggests that the extracts of the ten Korean herb medicines are useful cosmetic agents for preventing the skin irritation.

The antiviral activity of Thuja orientalis folium against Influenza A virus

“…TOF contains a lot of chemical components including amentoflavone, quercitrin, myricetin, afzelin, and Kaempferol. Several studies have reported that TOF has a variety of biological functions such as an antioxidant ( Ju et al., 2010 ), anti-inflammatory action ( An et al., 2014 ), anticancer activity ( Biswas et al., 2011 ) as well as reducing fever ( Srivastava et al., 2012 ). The essential oil, in particular, has been used for mycotic infection and the treatment of roundworms ( Srivastava et al., 2012 ).…”

Thuja orientalis folium protects against Influenza A virus via inhibition of hemagglutinin and viral binding at early stage

“…TOP contains a lot of chemical components including amento avone, quercitrin, myricetin, afzelin and Kaempferol. Several studies have reported that TOF has a variety of biological functions such as antioxidant [12], anti-in ammatory action [13], anticancer activity, [14] as well as reducing fever [15]. The essential oil, in particular, has been used for mycotic infection and the treatment of roundworm [15].…”

Inhibitory effect of Jangkanghwan (Korean traditional food) on experimental ulcerative colitis in mice

“…Traditional medical books have documented the ingredients and methods of using many herbs and foods (Cha et al., 2007). There is also documentation regarding extracting ingredients from Korean herbs to fight inflammation and provide antioxidant effects in the body (An et al., 2014; Ko et al., 2008). The Korean herbal ingredients in jangkanghwan (JKH) are mainly radish leaves, Plantago asiatica L., Cirsium japonicum var.…”